A Good Neighborhood

Juniper is unaware that Xavier has been charged with kidnapping and raping her. Her family will not tell her anything, and she is not allowed to use the telephone or computer. She tries to log onto her grandparents’ computer, but she does not know the password. Her family tells her that they are protecting her and that Xavier hurt her, but she does not agree.

While most of her family goes to Dollywood, Juniper stays behind and goes with her grandfather to his dentist appointment. While he is getting his root canal, Juniper leaves and goes to the library. She finds articles about Xavier and the charges against him, and she uses the library phone to call the district attorney. She explains to Tony that she wasn’t raped, but Tony shuts her down by saying she is a minor and her “view is myopic” (291).

After the district attorney tells her he is proceeding with the case, Juniper calls a taxi and goes to the nearest bus station. The bus does not leave until the next day, so she gets a hotel room and calls her mother to let Julia know she is safe. She tells her mother that Brad is trying to manipulate Valerie, and Julia says she will talk to Brad.